Jacksonville State Targets Record-Breaking Rush Streak Against New Mexico State

College football enters a pivotal week for Conference USA standings as Jacksonville State travels to Las Cruces on Tuesday, Oct. 28, to face New Mexico State. The 8 p.m. ET matchup on ESPN2 features two teams separated by one win in conference play, with the loser facing a difficult path toward the championship game.

Jacksonville State enters the contest with a 3-0 record in the league, tying them for first place alongside Liberty. The Gamecocks are listed at -200 odds to reach the CUSA Championship Game for the third consecutive year. New Mexico State sits at 2-1 in conference action and carries +500 odds to make the title game for the second time in program history. Liberty, the league’s strongest team, does not play Jacksonville State in the regular season, making this result critical for the Gamecocks’ positioning.

The Gamecocks arrive on a four-game winning streak, having defeated Florida International 27-24 on Oct. 13. Quarterback Caden Creel has thrown at least two total touchdowns in six straight games and is the only FBS quarterback averaging 225 passing yards and 70 rushing yards per game. Jacksonville State has extended the nation’s longest active streak of consecutive games with a rushing touchdown to 65, a run far ahead of the next best in Division I.

New Mexico State has transformed its offensive identity this season. The Aggies average 151.4 rushing yards per game, ranking second in CUSA, after finishing last in the country at 77.3 yards per game in 2025. Tailback James Jones leads the league with 111.0 rushing yards per game and recently rushed for 178 yards against Sam Houston. The Aggies have won every game where they have surpassed 200 rushing yards this season.

Defensively, New Mexico State allows 109.1 rushing yards per game, the best figure in CUSA and 30th nationally. In conference play alone, the Aggies limit opponents to 51.3 rushing yards per game, 16.7 fewer than the next best FBS team. It is the first season since 1994 that New Mexico State has held four opponents under 75 rushing yards. Jacksonville State allows 156.4 rushing yards per game, creating a direct matchup of two ground-oriented strategies.

The Gamecocks have won their last seven road Conference USA games by a margin of seven points or fewer. Jacksonville State is favored by 3.5 points in the betting markets, and a SportsLine model projects a 27-24 victory for the visitors. The series is tied 1-1, with the teams last meeting in 2024. The weather forecast for Las Cruces calls for a low near 56 degrees and light winds.